Range



April 26, 1932.

O. HOFFERBERT RANGE FIiled April 9, 1931` 2 Sheets-Sheet April 26, 1932. Y Q HOFFERBERT 1,855,759

RANGE Filed April 9. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'ifo FM4@ Patented vApr. 25, 19?.2

UNITED sTATEs OBBIN HOFFERBEBT, F BEAVER DAM, WISCONSIN, .ASSIGNOB TO MALLEABLE RANGE COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN P AT T orricl iRoN RANGE Application filed April 9,

This invention relates to improvementsin ranges.

The principal object of theY invention is to provide a range having two similar doors in the front., one for the oven and the other to conceal the service drawer, drip pan, and switch controls if the range be electric, or the gas valve handles if the invention is embodied in a gas range, this latter door being hinged preferably at the bottom and arranged to slide into the range structure during the use of the range. l

In ranges finished in enamel for instance,

it is necessary that the door in being slid to and from position within the range structure be prevented from contact with adjacent portions of the range in order that the nish will not be scratched or otherwise marred. Another object of the invention, therefore, 1s

to provide a guide mechanism for the slidingv door which will retain the door in spaced relation with respect to adjacent portions of the range structure while the door 1s wlthin the structure, or is being moved to, or from, such position.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide cushioning mechanism for the door -to prevent damage thereto in case .1t should be permitted to fall to horizontal position, such `mechanism also being adjustable to re-aline the door horizontally should the hinge members become bent during use.

Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangementof parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric range of the buffet or cabinet type, embodyingthe present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a broken perspective view 1llustrating the slidable door moved tothe inner position to provide access to electric switches and service drawer.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transversey sectional view through the range showing the slidable door in partially opened position, the dotted lines indicating the horizontal position of the door.

, 1931. Serial No. 528,889.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on lines 4 4 of F ig.l 3.

the sliding door and associated guide and adjustable cushioning mechanism.

1n the drawings the range is indicated Fig. 5 is a detached perspective View of generally by the numeral 10 and in the form Y shown is of the so-called buifet type having an oven door 11 vat the right hand end of the range which maybe hinged at the bottom by any approved means. 'At the other end of the range a door 12 is provided which is` similar in appearance to the door 11. The

door 12 when closed, as shown in Fig. 1, conceals the switch panel 13, utility drawer 14, and also a drip pan, not shown. The switch controls 15 may bearranged for controlling the" current to the hot plates 16, While the control 17"Te'gulates current to the heating4 elements in the oven. Asshown in Fig. 2, the door 12 has been -slid into a space or chamber 18 provided in the range structure, thus providing convenient access to the switch controls and the drawer 14. In sliding the door 12 to and from this inner'position it is desirable that the door be held out of Contact with adjacent. portions of the range structure to avoid marring the enamelled surface of the door. Tovaccomplish this result suitable track members 19 are provided in the chamber 18 along which is arranged to slide a guide member 20 which may be formed of sheet metal. lVelded or otherwise secured to the vertical ends-of the guide member 20 are a pair of forwardly projecting strap or. hinge members 21,' which have their forward portions preferably offset inwardly from the vertical plane of the rear portions thereof as indicated in Fig. 5. The door 12 has ears 22 weldedor otherwise secured thereto, which ears are preferably pivoted, as at 23, to, the cooperating hinge` members l.21. As indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 the door 12 can be lowered to a hori- T zontal position, but further downward move- 9 face of the inner track members, although the central embossed portion 12a of the door may extend below the plane of said tracks.

While the door is in this horizontal position it may be slid with the guide member into the chamber 18 to the position shown in Fig. 2. During this movement the door is retained by gravity in parallel relation with the guide member 20 and is spaced from contact with any adjacent portions of the range structure which might mar its outer enamelled surface. Y

When it is desired to close the door it. is first pulled outwardly in a horizontal direction and then swung upwardly about the pivots 28 to the position shown in Fig. 1. The outward sliding movement of the door is arrested by stops 25 carried by the slide 2O which contact with member 26 secured to the upper forward portion of the chamber 18.

In use the door 12 may frequently be dropped accidentally to horizontal position, or while in extended horizontal position may be used asa support or shelf for heavy pans or other utensils. Such abuse might, of course, cause the enamel to crack or spring the hinge members 21, 22 or bend the flange 24 so the door will not be arrested in hori zontal position, in.which event it will be likely to have its outer surface marred while being slidl into or from 'the positionwithin the range structure. To avoid the result of such mis-use, I have provided a cushioning mechanism which will absorb the shock of the falling door and thus prevent damage to the hinge members or iange 24. This mechanism, in the embodiment illustrated, pref-Y erably comprises two resilient or spring straps 27 which are welded or otherwise secured at their rear ends 28 to the guide 20. Their forward ends are spaced above vthe guide, as shown in Figy, and are provided with apertures through which extend bolts having wing nuts 30 on their lower ends.V

0 before the door has reached the horizontal 55 crack the enamel or bend the hinge members position. The stresses and vibrations which would bev imparted to the door upon acci-f andthe lower portion of the door. By adjusting the wing nuts 30, the tension of the springs 32 can be varied as desired. Should the hinge members 21, 22 or the iange 24 be` come bent through accident or mis-use so the door is not stopped normally in horizontal position,'the tension of the springs 32 may be increased suiiciently so the members 27 will hold the door in the proper osition.

lVhile I have shown and descri d one embodiment of the invention for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

`1. A range having a door, la chamber in said range having tracks therein, a guide slidable within said chamber along said tracks, hinge means secured to said door above the lower edge thereof and to said guide whereby said door can be swung into position parallel with said guide, means holding said door out of contact with adj acent portions of the range structure to avoid marring the front surface of said door while the same is being moved into or from s aid chamber, and means engaging the lower end of said door when the latter is opened to cushion the same as it approaches fully open position.

2. A range having a vertical door, a horizontal dooricharnber within the range structure, a guide member slidable within said chamber, track members for said guide, hinged members connecting said door adjacent the lower edge thereof to said guide whereby said door can be swung from vertical into horizontal position, said hinged members being arranged to arrest the down-A ward movement of said door, and adjustable means engaging a portion of said door and cooperating with said hinged member for holding the 'same out of contact with adjacent portions of the range structure during the movement of the door into and from said chamber.

3. A range comprising a structure having a chamber therein, tracks in said chamber, a guide member slidable along said tracks, a door having ears adjacent its lower edge, members carried by said slide and pivotally connected to said ears, said members and ears cooperating to arrest the movement of said door'in alinement with said chamber whereby said door can be moved into said chamber and supported therein with the outer surface of said door spaced from vadjacent portions of said structure, and resilient means carried by said guide and engaging a portion of said door as it approaches fully open position for cushioning the action thereof.

on the frontwall thereof, a vertical door yadapted to conceal said members when the said range adjacent the lower edge of said door, a guide slidable within said chamber, hinge members connecting said door adjacent the lower edge thereof to said guide whereby said door can be moved to position in'alinement with said chamber, said guide and hinge members normally sustaining said door in such aligned position whereby said door can be slid into said chamber and held out of contact .with adjacent portions of said range, and adjustable means carried by said guide and engaging the lower edge of said door for effecting the horizontal alignment of the same with respect to said chamber upon disalignment thereof.

5. The combination with a guide, horizontal tracks upon which said guide is adapted to slide, hinge members projecting forwardly from the forward end of said guide, and a vertical door having ears adjacent the lower end each pivotally secured to one of said members whereby said door can be moved from vertical position to a position parallel with said guide, said rpivots being positioned nearer to the outer surface ofthe adjacent front edges of said door than to the lower plane of said guide whereby when said door is moved to horizontal position the lower edges of said door are disposed slightly above said tracks, said hinge members being adapted to retain said door in said position with respect to said tracks during the movement of said door and guide along said tracks.

6. The combination with a pair of horizontal track members, a guide slidable thereon, a door having ears pivotally secured to said guide, said pivots being positioned nearer to the plane of the forward surface of Said door than to the bottom plane of said guide whereby when said door is moved to fully open position the edges of said door will be disposed above and out of contact with Said tracks, and cooperating means on said guide and door for restraining the movement of said door beyond said open position.

7. Apparatus of the class described coniprising a structure having a vertical door adapted to be swung downwardly to horizontal position, said structure having a horizontal chamber adjacent the lower end of said door, a guide slidable within said chamber, said guide having members for supporting saiddoor and arresting the downward movement thereof at horizontal position whereby said door Vcan be slid into said chamber, and means for cushioning said door as it approaches the horizontal position.

8. Apparat-us of the class described comprising ay structure having a hinged vertical door adapted to be moved to'horizontal position, said structure having a horizontal chamber adjacent the lower end of said door,

.a guide slidable within said chamber, said guide having members for supporting said door and arrestmg the downward movement thereof at horizontal position whereby said door can be slid into said chamber, and means for cushioning said door as it approaches the y horizontal position, said means comprising a resilient member carried by said guide and having a portion projecting into the path of the lower portion of said door.

9. A structure having a vertical door, a chamber in saidstructure adjacent the lower end of'said door, a guide slidable within said chamber, hinge members carried by said slide for supporting said door and arresting the downward movement thereof in a position in alinement with said chamber whereby said door can be slid into said chamber, and cushioning means for retarding' the downward movement of said door as it approaches said alined position, said means comprising a flexible member secured at one end to said guide, the opposite end of said member projecting into the path of the lower portion of said door forengagement by the latter, and an adjusting device for said Y memberfor varying the resistance of the same to the movement of said door after such engagement.

10. A structure having a vertical door, a

' chamber in said structure adjacent the lower end of said door, a guide slidable within said chamber, hinge members carried by said slide for supporting said door and arresting the downward/movement thereof in a position in alinement with said chamber whereby said door can be slid into said chamber, and cushioning means for retarding the downward movement ofsaid door as it approaches said alined position, said means comprising a fiexible member secured at one end to said guide, the opposite end of said member projecting into the path of the lower portion of said door for engagement by the latter, and an adjusting device for said member for varying the resistance of the same to the movement of said door after such engagement, said adjusting device comprising a. spring on said member, a bolt extending through said spring and member and through said guide, and an adjusting nut on said bolt.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

ORRIN HOFFERBERT. 

